Many would say that yes it matters. but having lost 64lbs by eating my fair share (or more than) or "bad calories" I say so long as you still eat fruit and veg, the cheesecake really doesn't matter so much, i guess i'm saying that while you still need nutrients, if you keep in mind your calorie limit then eat whatever you want :)

You want a balance of things from the major food groups, etc. There are no "bad" foods; there are only "bad" portions! :) Maybe I should copyright that.

The goal is to feel satisfied while keeping an eye on nutrition. You need some protein and fat, so cheese is good in this regard. The 2 cups of strawberries may be for a snack or some other time, just not on the turkey sandwich (although actually, that doesn't sound too bad, because we eat cranberry sauce with turkey right?)

Some of us--like me--save calories for food that is not very nutritious. I would think that the first 1200 cals need to be as nutritious as possible (I'm not sure even about this) but some percentage of the total could, perhaps, be simply for pleasure. Keeping an eye on how much of your diet falls into that "treat" category is important for good health and weight loss, but the truth is, if you ate only 1200 calories of junk food and burned 2200, you would still have a 1000 calorie deficit. You'd feel yucky and over time you'd have less energy, etc., and you'd torpedo your weight loss plan. Obviously not a good idea!

In my opinion, while it's great to eat healthy food, I find that it's impossible all of the time. Also, you need fats (like you would get in cheese, unless its non-fat) in your diet. So, while I would say that you shouldn't be putting cheese on everything because it will definitely up your calorie intake, it's not something that you can't have as long as your staying within you caloric limit each day.

It's important to eat healthy AND balanced each day! I know it's possible to do because I am a self proclaimed fast-foodaholic who has managed to drop the fast-food, eat healthier and still get a lot of the things I love to eat each day. So don't deny yourself that piece of cheese on your turkey sandwich, just make sure that it fits within you caloric intake for the day and you'll be just fine!

In my opinion, while it's great to eat healthy food, I find that it's impossible all of the time. Also, you need fats (like you would get in cheese, unless its non-fat) in your diet. So, while I would say that you shouldn't be putting cheese on everything because it will definitely up your calorie intake, it's not something that you can't have as long as your staying within you caloric limit each day.

It's important to eat healthy AND balanced each day! I know it's possible to do because I am a self proclaimed fast-foodaholic who has managed to drop the fast-food, eat healthier and still get a lot of the things I love to eat each day. So don't deny yourself that piece of cheese on your turkey sandwich, just make sure that it fits within you caloric intake for the day and you'll be just fine!

Yikes!

I bet it was hard to give up fast food!

The part I am having a hard time cutting back on is coffee

The coffee itself is not bad.. but the creamer and sugar I put in IS! LOL

In my opinion, while it's great to eat healthy food, I find that it's impossible all of the time. Also, you need fats (like you would get in cheese, unless its non-fat) in your diet. So, while I would say that you shouldn't be putting cheese on everything because it will definitely up your calorie intake, it's not something that you can't have as long as your staying within you caloric limit each day.

It's important to eat healthy AND balanced each day! I know it's possible to do because I am a self proclaimed fast-foodaholic who has managed to drop the fast-food, eat healthier and still get a lot of the things I love to eat each day. So don't deny yourself that piece of cheese on your turkey sandwich, just make sure that it fits within you caloric intake for the day and you'll be just fine!

Yikes!

I bet it was hard to give up fast food!

The part I am having a hard time cutting back on is coffee

The coffee itself is not bad.. but the creamer and sugar I put in IS! LOL

The things we do for a healthy body!

I don't even want to tell you how difficult it is for me to drive past Wendy's and not stop and get a spicy chicken sandwich! But, I know it's no good for me, and I need to learn how to eat right before even thinking about having one again, so I drive on.....

Thankfully my coffee habit has not had to completely die, as I drink it black, but I have definitely scaled back on how much of it I drink (down to 2 cups a day!). I wish you luck with that, because I know how tough it is!

I agree with what everyone is saying here. You have to try to make 90% of your calories healthy but we all need a little treat! As long as you stay in your calorie limit then it should be ok. I dont' think any of us are going to get that far by eliminating all the bad things!

As far as Wendy's go, I do make the occassional trip with my kids but now I just order the Jr. Hamburger (is only 280 calories) -eat it with a salad and some veggies and its not so bad! Obviously you can't do this everyday but a treat here and there. Just STAY AWAY FROM THE FRIES!

One way to not feel guilty about drinking SOME coffee is to reduce the amount of sugar you put in until your taste buds get used to it, then reduce sugar amount again until eventually you'll drink it black AND enjoy it. The same can be said of cream... At least it worked for me!

About 10% of your calories can be used for nutritionally empty "treats." I wouldn't even consider cheese a "treat" substance because it is a legitimate member of the dairy family (unless it's one of those awful imitation cheeses) and has some nutritional benefits. As long as it fits in your calories, go for it. That'll make your sandwich a veritable banquet of nutrition--covering dairy, whole grains (if your using whole grain bread or wrap), and protein source.